9+ Best Pellet Grill Under $500 | Unrivaled Guide 2023

Are you looking for a good pellet grill that won’t break the bank? If so, look no further, we have everything you need. In this article, we’re going to show you some of our favorite pellet grills under $500.

Lounging in a hot kitchen on a hot summer day can be a lot of fun. In those moments, firing up the grill for an impromptu barbecue is a great choice for quick and easy cooking. There are many amazingly sophisticated grills available today, but they can also be quite expensive. But don’t worry, it is possible to find great pellet grills online at an affordable price.

Pellets are essentially compressed sawdust or wood chips that burn cleanly and efficiently. They are often compared to charcoal briquettes, but burn cleaner and produce less ash. Pellets also tend to last longer than briquettes and are used in many grills to produce a tasty smoke. This means they can be smoked while the meat is cooking, adding a real smoky flavor that is very enjoyable. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best pellet grills available online for under $500.

Best Pellet Grill Under $500

What is a pellet grill?

A pellet grill is like an outdoor convection oven that uses ignited wood pellets and a ventilation system to heat food to a specific temperature.

The temperature is controlled by the amount of pellets burned. With an electrical outlet and a few pounds of quality wood pellets, you can grill, smoke, bake or braise food on a pellet grill.

With these grills, you don’t need to be a grill master. Pellet grills make it easy to smoke food while you enjoy cooking. Most are versatile, either 8-in-1 or 6-in-1.

That means they can do it all.

• Grill
• Smoke
• Baking
• Roasting
• Braise
• Barbecue

How do you use a pellet grill?

• The wood pellets go into a hopper
• The pellets go through an auger
• The compressed wood pellets are ignited by the hot rods
• A fan controls the air flow

Before you buy a pellet grill, you need to understand how it works.

Step 1: Place the wood pellets in the hopper

Place the wood pellets in a container called a pellet hopper.

Step 2: Move the pellets with an auger

The pellets are moved from the hopper to the combustion chamber using an auger.

Step 3: Pulling the compressed pellets with hot rods

Here, the pellets are ignited with a hot metal rod. This is what gives the wood its taste and aroma.

Step 4: Control the wind with a fan

The pellet grill is equipped with a fan that distributes heat and smoke throughout the grill. This airflow controls the temperature and helps regulate the temperature during cooking. This allows the natural aroma of the wood to swirl around the smoker, giving the food a wonderful flavor. Pellet grills have some similarities to conventional grills, but are superior in taste, ease of use, efficiency and flexibility.

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Temperature Control Features

One of the most important things to consider when buying a pellet grill is whether it has digital temperature control.

While these types of grills tend to cost more than their analog counterparts, they offer better control over the temperature of your main cooking chamber.

Digital controls often turn up the heat to the required level and can automatically turn off to save energy and prevent your food from burning.

They are able to maintain the constant temperature needed to cook meat and fish to a tasty temperature.

If the temperature of the cooking zone rises or falls too quickly, food can burn or not cook properly.

The thickness of the walls and the efficiency of the pellet feeder also affect thermal stability.

Metal thickness

The walls of the main cooking chamber should be of sufficient thickness. This is not only a sign of a durable grill, but also of better heat retention.

This means that the temperature control unit doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the heat inside your grill at a constant level.

If you are buying a portable grill that you want to take with you on a camping trip, you can replace the heat retention with something slightly lighter.

This makes it much easier to load the grill into a van or pickup truck. Many Traeger grills come with extra thick insulated walls.

This is perfect for those who live in colder climates, as they can still grill food outside, even if they are in the middle of a snowdrift.

Portability

Most grills live in your garage and only come out during the summer months, and then only for a good barbecue. So you won’t have to lift or carry the grill much, especially if you buy a model with legs that have wheels.

However, you need to look carefully at your yard to see what type of wheels you are looking for.

If you want to push the grill out onto the patio, you can buy one that has smaller wheels, but you may need something a little sturdier to push it over long grass.

You can also find many grills on the market for tailgating. These are smaller models, often with folding legs, designed to be carried in the back of a pickup truck or van.

They are perfect for camping trips or other occasions when you can use your grill away from home.

If you’re thinking of buying a grill for the holidays, it’s best to choose one that’s lightweight and easy to transport. This will allow you to load it into your vehicle much more easily.

It’s also helpful to have one that can run on both 110V and 12V power. This gives you the option of plugging your grill into a regular wall outlet or using the car battery to power it.

Standby grills may not have much cooking space, but they are ideal for feeding a small family on a camping trip.

Cooking Space

You need to think about how the grill will be used and how many people you will be feeding at any given time.

If you just want a grill for your family to enjoy a nice summer barbecue with you, you can afford a cheaper model with less overall cooking space.

However, if you’re planning a large gathering or party, you’ll want a larger model capable of preparing meals for more people.

Most grills come with two shelves, with the bottom one being the hottest because it’s closer to the flame.

This allows you to have a constant rotation of food on and off the grill, and you can use the top shelf to make things last while other items cook.

Grill performance

Reasonably priced grills and smokers must still offer excellent cooking performance. Compared to regular grills, wood pellet-fueled grills are versatile, which improves their performance.

They should be able to grill using different temperature settings so you can smoke, barbecue, roast and braise meat.

Ease of use

What good is a large cooking area if you can’t cook all your food at once? Choose a product with multiple automatic functions. It should be easy to assemble and adjust. Non-stick cooktops are also a good choice for easy removal of food from the cooking rack.

Material

Since it will be used outdoors, it should be durable and weather resistant. Most quality pellet grills are made of stainless steel and will not rust, allowing them to last for years.

Cooking Style

The appeal of pellet grills lies in their versatility. Grilling, charcoal grilling, smoking, searing and even baking.

If you want your grill to be even more versatile, some models allow you to add accessories such as a griddle to the main grill. This opens up even more cooking styles and allows you to make things like freshly baked bread and pizza.

Some grills come with a movable sear plate. This is a piece of metal that covers the burner and heats the main cooking area.

The movable sear plate can be retracted to allow you to cook over an open fire. This is a great feature for those who like to grill over an open fire.

Hopper Capacity

The hopper is the box on the side of the grill that holds the wood pellets. Naturally, you want your grill to have a large hopper, because that means you won’t have to refill it as often.

However, if your pellets sit in the hopper for too long, you don’t want it to be too big, because they can absorb moisture from the air. This can cause the pellets to burn less efficiently and cook more slowly.

Warranty

Traeger has a three-year warranty, but Pitboss pellet grills now have a five-year warranty. This shows how confident Pit Boss is in the quality of their products.

Additional Features

In this area, Traeger has upped its game with the recently released WiFIRE technology. This allows users to connect their grill to their smartphone and cook remotely, from turning on the grill to setting the temperature.

Pit Boss offers a high-quality pellet grill, but doesn’t offer much in the way of additional features. That’s one of the reasons they offer it at a great price. Pit Boss and Traeger are definitely the best brands in terms of quality, temperature range, warranty and hopper size.

If you’re on a smaller budget, choose Pit Boss because it offers great value and is just as good as Traeger.

Price Comparison

Pit Boss has established itself as a more affordable brand than its main rival, Traeger. Pit Boss pellet models typically range from $400 to $700 USD. Smaller portable models are even less expensive, with top-of-the-line models costing $700 USD.

Traeger typically ranges from $600 USD for the most basic models to $2,000 USD for the top of the line products. Given Traeger’s price point, you can certainly get more for your money, but if you want a high-quality, inexpensive option, the Pit Boss will not disappoint.

Best Pellet Grill Under $500 |Video Explanation

FAQs

Are pellet grills worth their price?

Pellet grills are very versatile, allowing you to set the temperature and time, you only have to wait or spend time with your family, and you will receive a notification when the cooking is finished. We also translate this phrase as “set and forget”. They are very expensive, but you can get good pellet smokers for up to $500.

What is PID temperature control?

PID temperature control is common to many pellet grills. PID is a special feature that turns the temperature control on and off to maintain a constant temperature inside the grill.

The PID feature is very useful because it allows you to change the temperature quickly and by a small amount.

This means that the heating elements can be turned on and off as needed, keeping the temperature inside the grill at the ideal level for cooking.

Is a pellet grill better than smoking?

Pellet grills are a type of smoker that use wood pellets as fuel, and they can be a great option for those who want a more convenient and easy-to-use option than traditional charcoal or wood-burning smokers. However, whether or not a pellet grill is better than traditional smoking will depend on a variety of factors, including personal preferences and cooking needs.

Here are some factors to consider when comparing pellet grills to traditional smoking:

1. Convenience: Pellet grills are generally more convenient than traditional smokers, as they require less effort and are easier to use. Traditional smokers require more attention and manual adjustments to maintain a consistent temperature and achieve great results.
2. Flavor: While pellet grills produce a great smoky flavor, some people feel that the flavor is not as strong or distinct as what can be achieved with traditional smokers. This is largely a matter of personal preference and can be influenced by the type of wood pellets used and other factors.
3. Versatility: Pellet grills are versatile and can be used for a wide range of cooking styles, from low-and-slow smoking to high-heat grilling, roasting, and baking. Traditional smokers are generally limited to smoking and slow cooking.
4. Cost: Pellet grills can be more expensive than traditional smokers, and the cost of the wood pellets can add up over time. Traditional smokers are generally less expensive and require less ongoing costs.

Ultimately, whether a pellet grill is better than traditional smoking will depend on your personal preferences and cooking needs. If you value convenience and versatility and don’t mind the extra cost, a pellet grill may be a great option. However, if you prefer a more hands-on approach to smoke meat or want to achieve a stronger smoky flavor, a traditional smoker may be a better choice.

What are the negatives of a pellet grill?

Final thoughts

As we showed above, a reliable pellet grill doesn’t have to be expensive. By choosing a pellet grill under $500, you can enjoy a fun and satisfying barbecue party with your family. When choosing an affordable pellet grill, always make sure that safety is not compromised.

For example, the grill should be stable enough to not tip over. Avoid grills with sharp corners or metal edges. Another safety tip is to always unplug the pellet grill when not in use.